Lily had said goodbye to Sierra and Maddie. It was incredibly emotional for her, but I’d make it my mission to bring the women back together again for visits. Maddie would visit more often because she and Shaun were still together. Harry and Sierra’s short-lived friends-with-benefits came to an end, and I wondered how attached Harry had gotten there. He’d been in a foul mood since she left.
With the girls gone, Lily and I were looking for our own place in Edinburgh. When I relayed that to my parents, it seemed to really settle on them how serious we were. Pa was generous andwelcoming to Lily, and I could tell he liked her immediately. Mum, while welcoming, took a little longer to warm up. I didn’t know if it was merely a mother’s prerogative to be wary of the woman her son chose to love. However, when Lily and I were leaving, Mum had pulled me aside and said, “She’s lovely, darling. Utterly lovely. I understand now.”
It was such a relief to have back the parents I’d grown up with and not the crazy people they’d turned into last year.
“It’s time.” Mum gave Lily a reassuring smile. “My mother, Princess Mary, would like to meet you, Lily.”
I tried to keep the scowl off my face. It seemed ridiculous I had to bring Lily before my grandmother to pass some kind of inspection after the shit she’d pulled. Granny hadn’t returned my call, but Mum had spoken to her, and she’d agreed to back off. Only because Mum had relayed that Lily was no longer on the podcast and because Granny was apparently appalled by the methods Zac had used to do the job she’d employed him to do.
Mum didn’t tell Granny Lily’s younger sister January was still on the podcast or that she was outrageous on it in a way Lily had never been.
“We’re with you.” Juno clapped a hand on my shoulder and gave Lily a nod. “We’ll all go together.”
Lily tightened her grip on my hand and straightened her shoulders. “All right.”
My grandmother was surrounded by the members of my family, including my uncle Michael, Mum’s eldest brother, the Earl of Avon, and his wife Pamela. His children, my cousins, were all in attendance, some with their younger brood who were over the permitted age of ten years old.
“Your Highness.” My mother gave a small curtsy to her mother since we were in public. “I’d like to introduce you to Sebastian’s girlfriend, Lily Sawyer. Lily, this is Sebastian’s grandmother, Princess Mary, my brother Lord Michael, andhis wife Pamela.” She didn’t bother introducing the rest of the family as Lily curtsied while I bowed.
“Your Highness,” I greeted her with a curt tone.
My grandmother raised an eyebrow, giving me a pointed look before turning to Lily. “Are you enjoying the Royal Enclosure, Ms. Sawyer?”
Lily wet her lips nervously. “I-I am, Your Highness. Thank you for the invitation.”
Granny’s eyes darted over her, and I couldn’t help but slip my arm around Lily’s waist protectively. My mother cleared her throat, but I refused to let Lily go. Granny gave me a chiding look before asking, “Your family originally hails from Scotland, then?”
“Yes. My mother grew up in America, but my grandfather is Scottish. As are my paternal grandparents.”
“I thought you grew up in Edinburgh,” one of my cousins, Grant, interjected. “You sound like aScot.”
I’d never liked Grant. Pretentious arsehole. I glowered at him for the way he spat the wordScot.
“Michael, perhaps you ought to have provided your children with a better education,” Granny retorted haughtily. “If your eldest son is confused by a person sounding like a Scot when they are Scottish.”
I heard Juno cover a snort behind me.
Grant huffed. “I only meant thatmyfriends from Edinburgh don’t sound Scottish.”
“Is that what you meant?” Granny cut him a quelling look. “Well, let me educate you. Most people from Scotland have a Scottish accent, and if Barton ever heard you use that tone, you’d never be invited back for Boxing Day shooting ever again.”
My lips twitched with laughter. Barton was a stout Highlander and head gamekeeper at the Queen’s Scottish estatein the Highlands. Grant practically panted after an invitation every other year.
“I’ve only been invited once, anyway,” he muttered like a spoilt child.
“Grant, do be quiet,” Uncle Michael uttered wearily before taking a bored sip of champagne.
“Are we done then, Your Highness?” Juno popped her head over my shoulder. “I’m starving and would like to eat now.”
My grandmother peered at Juno. “I heard you said something inappropriate in front of Olivia.”
“I might have.”
Granny nodded. “Very good.” She waved her hand. “Off you go and grab me something to eat too while you’re at it.”
And just like that the interrogation—I mean, introduction—was over.
Hotels were booked to the rafters around the racecourse, so I’d hired a private car and driver to take us to our hotel a whole county over.
